As most of you Charlottesville readers know by now, the Downtown Mall is undergoing some significant changes. From rebricking to the new Landmark Hotel at the old Boxer Building, I’m a little worried that the mall I visit when I come home from college will be very different from the one I’ve come to know and love over the past few years. This is my mall! I’ve spent Friday evenings here for practically all of high school! The mall is where I’d get all excited about going on a Saturday afternoon in 6th grade when my family would go see a movie together. It’s where I went on my first date, where I had my first quasi-job, and collectively have eaten more pizza than you should in a lifetime.

Admittedly, the rebricking needs to be done. I’ve stubbed my big toe no less than four times in the past month on loose bricks, not to mention seen a woman who got her high heels stuck in the nonexistent grout. And I have to say, the new section they’ve finished next to the Paramount looks rather classy.

But I’m a bit less enthusiastic about the Landmark Hotel. Take a look at this rendering of the hotel (about halfway down the page). First of all, whoever thinks that the downtown mall is that empty at night is severely mistaken. Second of all, I completely disagree with Mayor Norris’ assertion that, “anytime you bring something like this downtown, it can only help.” I’m sure that’s exactly what residents near Barracks Road said when the John Paul Jones was being built.

Don’t get me wrong - I’m not completely anti-development. But parking’s already hard enough to find on a Friday afternoon, thank-you-very-much. Plus, I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to tourists, I’ll admit.

What do all of you think about the Landmark?